Note:
Beverly (Bev) is preparing for the birth of a new brood and she
wants to present the parents with a gift. She finds a bow that is
later used for the nest and decoration for the one female baby once
she is hatched.

"It
takes a village to raise a child."—Old African Proverb

Chapter
1—Hustle and Bustle

All
the creatures had come out of hibernation from a long, grueling
winter and were elated to greet the coming season of spring. It had
been a little warmer than a typical spring would be but no animals
were complaining. They were simply singing, and helping one another
with their daily chores. Beverly, one of the blackbirds of the
neighborhood, was preparing for a new brood of baby birds. She was
looking forward to becoming an aunt and wondered if there would be an
equal representation of the sexes within the infants. Even if that
wasn't the case, she didn't matter. She simply adored children
and remembered having her own before sending them on their way. It
was always exciting to welcome new life into the world and she was
practically giddy about it.

The
avian community was all a twitter about the coming presentation of
the baby blackbirds. Many had already gotten their gifts from in and
around the neighborhood, but Beverly didn't have anything yet.
She wasn't worried, however, because she knew that whatever she
found for her sister Bertha that she would adore it.

Chapter
2—Presentation, Hatching and Gifts

Before
long, the blackbirds and other birds of the community were clamoring
together to see Bertha delivering her brood. Beverly, who had been
searching far outside of the neighborhood, had been scouring over
vast miles of territory to get her sister a gift for the infants. It
took hours until she found a simple lavender bow to use as a gift.
It wasn't a large gift, but it was practical and it could have a
number of uses. Beverly had a feeling that no matter what the
present was, Bertha would love it, and so would the children once
they came into the world.

Beverly
watched everything as it happened. For a few precious hours,
everything had gone by in suspended animation. Soon, the infants
broke their shells and took their first glimpse upon the strange,
alien world and were crying for food. All the guests that had been
invited to the shower were celebrating, singing, dancing and eating.
Bertha, as Beverly had predicted, adored the bow most of all and
gave it to the only girl within the brood. She would wear it when
she was old enough to know it was for ornamentation and not for
eating. For now, the bow was used as decoration and a method of
keeping the nest secure to the tree where it had been built.

Indeed,
Beverly's gift had proven very useful. But it was not any more
special or more useful than anyone else's gifts. All the birds in
the neighborhood had been very thoughtful and helpful in the course
of the beginnings of these young ones' first breaths of fresh air.
They would continue to do all they could to make certain the infants
would grow in a world where they could live without fear even though
the world was a very uncertain place. Yet, they would do everything
within their power to protect them from the dangers that would
inevitably face them in the future. That was their duty as parents
and guardians. They would learn and grow but for now, they would be
pampered until they were old enough to fly and navigate the area on
their own terms, without anyone else's help.

Chapter
3—Adornment

When
the only female bird of the brood grew old enough to wear the
lavender bow that Beverly had found, she decided to wear it. She
would use it for future broods when she found a mate and decided to
have a family of her own. Her name was Bella and her namesake was
very apropos because she certainly was beautiful as her name
implied. Bella and her siblings often did everything together, but
it was coming to the time where they would be leaving the
neighborhood and going out on their own. They loved to visit their
aunt rather frequently and would miss her just as much as they would
miss their beloved family. But, they would return when they had
families of their own. Their youngsters would know of the
neighborhood in which their parents grew and developed in. This area
would always be a part of their existence wherever they traveled and
the lavender bow would "tie" them all together forever.

Epilogue

As
the years passed by, Bella returned with her brood and had been
wearing the bow that Beverly had presented her with so many years
ago. She had grown even more beautiful. Beverly, although grayed in
color, was still lovely and very wise. Bertha was the eldest of them
all and taught all the birds (blackbirds and others alike) all the
simple rules of survival in an uncertain world. Bella had become
quite a stunning young lady and had raised a fine brood of her own.
Beverly had no doubt her niece and nephews would turn out so
splendidly. She was impressed to say the least and she knew that
they would continue to do great things as they branched out into the
world. Although the reunion was short-lived, the chatter, laughter
and reminiscing would always be remembered. So long as the lavender
bow remained, which it always did, all of these precious moments
would be recollected.

The
End

By:
Elizabeth Berndt

April
21, 2005

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